Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-10-05
Democratic Ticket
Truth is Stranger than Felton,
A FOOLISH AND 1MPoTENr BOYCOTT

1Eutn 40 oeAo h6SA sAA~>A
FOOLISH AND IMPoTENT BOYCOTT.
tits true, that truth is sometimes stran
ger than fiction. If any one had told us a
little more than a week since that man
holding an official position in the prohibition
party-the third politico- prohibition party
would boycott, and violate contract IN so
doing. man in his business who is not
only an earnest temperance man, but was
Jealous advocate of that cause before his
boycotter was old enough to know the mean
ing of the word temperance, if not 'pu-
ling infant in his mothers arms" simply
because he does not favor the scheme OF
the third party, yclept the prohibition party
for the reason that he believes it to be det-
rimental, if not fatal, to the success OF the
temperance cause in this State, or, in the
exact language ofthe boycotter, because he is
not ..in hearty cooperation with the temper
auce and prohibition party or club OF the
y,''-if, we repeat, any one had told US
little:more than week since, that such was
tho case, we could not have believed it. We
would have thought it too unreasonable for
belief yet it is true that just that strange
thing has been done, and for this proscrlp-
tive boycotter,-not the individual ooycoe-
ted-'pity tits, tits true"
We know it to be true, because we are
the victim of the boycott but we are not
much distressed about it, for we feel as
sured that the community will not endorse
such conduct, and that our business Will
not me made to suffer on account OF 1t.
Were we actuated by similar spirit, we
might affect his business very seriously, Tor
it depends wholly upon the public, q large
majority of whom occupy the position and
entertain the views we do, and II they
would follow his example, and refuse to do
business with him because he differed from
them as to the true policy of advancing the
temperance cause, he could then do BUSH
ness only with those who belong to the
politico-prohibition party, or ''club OF the
city, he expressed it. But we do not wish
to iniure him in his business, or to have
him pointed to as the man who perpetrated
such foolish and unjustifiable act, and
therefore we do not mention his name, nor
the Office he holds in his party, nor the
business in which he is engaged. W.
mention it merely as one of the strange and
remarkable events of the times, and to show
how strangely some minds are perverted, SO
that they deem it right to boycott for an
honest difference of opinion as to the prop
er mode to accom plish an end at which
both aim, and at the same time think II
right to violate business contract This
is strange mental and moral pervers'on.
At least, it seems so to us.
The great majority of the temperance
people rightly believe localoption to be
not only the proper, but the most efficient
mode, as it is free from politics and secures
the votes of all who favor the abolition Of
the liquor traffic, irrespective Of their polit
ical views or party affiliations ;. and the
small minority strangely believe the proper
mode to be the organization of third par
ty, political in its character, that will an
tagonize both of the two great political par.
ties, and consequently lessen, and greatly
lessen, the vote against the liquor-trat1ic
For this difference of opinion, the minority
attempt to boycott the majority, if this CT
ficer represent their views and purposes,
which we cannot, as yet, bslieVe to be SO
Nous Uerr0ns.
The attempt of the little prohibition par
ty in its very NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the call
has been licked dry after it's birth-to boy
colt tie whole of the non-concurring CON-
munity, would be a re-enactment Of the
farcical, and at the same time tragical role
of the presumptuous little bovine. that es-
saved to butt the locomotive off the bridge.
Is the boycotting of temperance men the
way to make friends for the cause OF pro-
hibition. or to advance the business inter
ests of those who belong to that party
'.Stop aud think before you farther GO
AIen, manly men, cannot be controlled
sn chat way, and it is needless for us to say
that all the boycotting that can be exer
cised cannot prevent us from expressing
fully and freely our honest convictions.
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